In the second week of September, two Massachusetts legislators introduced a bill “to ensure the responsible use of advanced robotic technologies.” Read the legislation does is ban the manufacture, sale, and use of weaponized robots. The move is important, as there are still few U.S. laws governing these concerns. For over 20 years, the U.S. has deployed robots (drones) in warfare. But when it comes to local concerns, there are different reactions. The fear of “killer robots” goes beyond the military, as robots have been mounted with paintball guns and sniper rifles.
Law enforcement has also used robots to kill – for example, the Dallas Police Department used a bomb disposal robot to kill a suspect in 2016. The potential use of weaponized robots by law enforcement has been controversial in cities like Oakland and San Francisco. Boston Dynamics signed a letter against the weaponization of “general purpose” robots. The company has been at the forefront of efforts to push for the new proposed bill.
MA Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa and state senator Michael Moore are pursuing the bill. The legislation would prevent regular people from trying to weaponize robots while allowing law enforcement to continue using robots to deescalate situations. However, it would require law enforcement to obtain warrants for robot use in non-emergency situations. The bill does not outright ban the weaponization of robots but does not condone it either.
The stakeholders of the bill, such as robot-producing companies and law enforcement, are generally positive about the proposed legislation. There are questions about the intent of the bill, with stakeholders wondering if it is an effort to prevent misuse of robots or something else.
Overall, the goal of the legislation is to regulate the use of robots without stifling innovation in the industry. Massachusetts, being a major robotics hub, is taking the lead in addressing concerns around weaponized robots, providing a modicum of safety to robot-producing companies that are not producing robots for nefarious purposes.